If you have ever strolled the beach at Heart Pond on a summer afternoon, it might feel timeless, but the pond’s story actually begins 12,000 years ago, when a retreating glacier left behind a giant block of stranded ice. As that block melted, the earth around it collapsed, forming what geologists call a kettle pond. Heart Pond is one of those rare relics, a deep, round basin, about 91 acres, with water as old as Chelmsford itself.

Well, two big events are now behind us, what we like to call our “Halloween events,” and we have a few days’ break before we start the “Thanksgiving events.” I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what happened and how it all came together.

Chelmsford doesn’t have a full recreation department like many surrounding towns do, so it’s the residents and community groups who organize most of the events you see. These events don’t have large budgets or resources behind them, but what they do have is a tremendous amount of heart.

Whether it’s a trunk-or-treat, a small neighborhood Halloween parade, or a party and movie night in one of the old town halls, Chelmsford residents have figured out how to make things happen with just a few dollars and a lot of creativity.

Bill Edge / Deep Brook Reservation – 2025 Update The Bill Edge, also known as Deep Brook Reservation, sits quietly at 214 Dunstable Road in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. This fifteen-acre property is mostly woodland and wetlands, centered around the twisting waters...